Lotus Emira

Lotus says 'never say never' to Emira hybrid as it slows all-EV plan

As Lotus adds range-extender options and pushes back EV sports car, Emira could live on with electrification

Lotus could electrify the Emira and extend its lifecycle as the brand moves to hybridise its line-up and pushes back the sports car's long-awaited electric replacement.

It's responding to flagging uptake of electric luxury cars by reducing its sales volume ambitions over the coming years and introducing a new range-extender (REx) powertrain option in a bid to boost the appeal of its EVs.

The move marks a reversal of Lotus's plan to go all-electric by 2028 and raises questions about the future of its last remaining sports car, which was due to be effectively replaced by an EV equivalent in the coming years.

Lotus launched the Emira in 2021 as its final pure-combustion car and as an effective replacement for the Evora from which it was evolved.

The firm has never put an end date on Emira production, but under its now-axed plan to go all-electric, it was due to usher in an EV successor known as the Type 135 in 2027, and it was expected that the Emira would be phased out in kind.

Now, however, Lotus's new European CEO Dan Balmer has suggested the Hethel-built coupé could live on with an electrified powertrain instead.

www.autocar.co.uk

Lotus could keep the Emira on sale for longer - and hybrid power is a possibility... | Autocar

As Lotus adds range-extender options and pushes back EV sports car, Emira could live on with electrification
www.autocar.co.uk www.autocar.co.uk
 
Lotus is releasing five special edition Emiras based on vintage Formula One racers

Senna and Clark liveries are included, before you ask

Lotus has launched a series of vintage F1-inspired Emiras, and yes, there's one based on Ayrton Senna.

Two, in fact. The ‘Shadow Grey’ and gold is a nod to the Type 97T in which he won his very first race, while that yellow one mimics the Type 99T the Brazilian maestro drove to eight podiums in 1987.

Want to head even further back in time? There are liveries for the Type 78, the very first car to adopt ground effect, and the Type 86, a one-off prototype used for testing during the 1980 season.

But if even these seem too modern to you, Lotus’ fifth and final offering is based on the Type 25: the green and yellow hero that took Jim Clark to the 1963 title and chalked up 14 wins over a three-year window.

 
Lotus is launching the four-pot Emira Turbo SE in the UK, yours from £89,500

And it’s both faster and cheaper than the V6

Six months after revealing its shiny new entry-level Emira ‘Turbo SE’, Lotus has confirmed its availability for British customers with prices starting at £89,500. That’s three grand cheaper than the full-fat supercharged 3.5-litre V6.

Its revised AMG-pinched four-pot now has 400bhp and 354lb ft, pinning it level with the V6 in terms of power but providing an extra 44 torques. As such, the SE is actually quicker to 62 by three-tenths (4s) and tops out at a slightly higher 182mph. The balance has finally shifted, it seems.

There are a few other key differences too: the SE gets an eight-speed DCT while the V6 has a choice of six-speed auto/manual transmissions. You’ll also get the Driver’s Pack as standard with the SE, which adds a stiffer sports suspension, launch control, a more versatile exhaust for a wider vocal range and a bespoke ‘Track Mode’ setting. Both cars will come with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and cross-drilled brakes.

Lotus has also used the opportunity to reshuffle the Emira lineup, doing away with the First Editions and the previous entry-level ‘Turbo’. It means the SE and the V6 are currently the only models available for order on the Lotus website.

 
Lotus is commemorating Jim Clark with this £115k British Racing Green Emira V6

Limited to just 60 units, it celebrates six decades since the latter of the Scotsman's two F1 world titles

It's been 60 years since Jim Clark, considered by many to be one of the greatest F1 drivers in history, won his second title in a Lotus 33, and Hethel is celebrating with a specially-outfitted V6 Emira.

Surprise! It's called the ‘Clark Edition’ and limited to just 60 examples. It’ll make its public debut at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix wearing the same British Racing Green livery, accented with a yellow strip from the bonnet to the boot lid. The tailpipes also get the sunflower treatment, and there’s a thin line spotted along the flanks.

Elsewhere, you’ll note a black roof and silver-painted mirrors, which reference the Lotus Type 38 in which Clark won the Indy 500 that same year. The machined aluminium fuel filler cap gets a blue anodised centre, and there’s a handful of Clark logos dotted around the exterior.

Inside the cabin - which gains red Alcantara trim for the driver’s seat - you'll find a wooden gear knob and bits of tartan detailing. Because Clark supposedly liked a bit of Tartan.

 
Lotus has tweaked the Emira and added a new ‘V6 SE’ top-spec model

And if you don’t fancy spending £96.5k, there’s now a cheaper, less powerful entry-level called the ‘Turbo’

Lotus has rejigged its Emira lineup for what feels like the 63rd time this year, adding a new range-topping ‘V6 SE’ and entry-level ‘Turbo’. It means the pre-existing Turbo SE now shifts into the middle ground. Of course.

As the name suggests, the V6 SE will continue to use Toyota’s 3.5-litre supercharged, er, V6. Rated at 400bhp and 310lb ft of torque, it’s good for 0-62mph in 4.3s. To help you do just that, the six-speed manual ‘box gains a new compression mount for slicker shifts.

Elsewhere, Lotus has tweaked the damper calibration and made subtle tweaks to the wheel alignment, sharpening up the handling and improving ride quality as a result.

Aside from the model-specific badging, the V6 will get 20in forged alloys, red brake calipers and a ‘Zing Grey’ paint finish as standard. You’ll also get the option of Lotus’ new ‘Racing Line’ accents, which add a subtle pinstripe to the exterior and colour-matched mirror caps.

Moving on to the Turbo, it’ll pinch the same twin-scroll 2.0-litre four-pot as the Turbo SE, albeit detuned to 360bhp and 317lb ft. Still, it’s just one-tenth off the V6’s 0-62mph time, and tops out at a still respectable 171mph (compared to the V6’s 180mph).


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